The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-05-17
PNEUMATIC GUNS.
An English Journal on the Great
American Invention.
Gt Admits That America Has Again Revolu-
tionized the Science OF War-Enect
Of Giant Dynamite Shells Upon
ssInvincible" Ironclads.

The problem of firing or, rather, pro-
pelling shells filled with high explosives
may be said to have been satisfactorily
solved by the Americans. Tentative
Experiments in that direction have been
BARRED on for the last two years with
powder guns by officers of the United
yates army. Early in 1885 trials were
kade with dynamite shells at Port Lo-
hos, Cal. under the supervision of Gen.
eral Kelton, assisted by Lieutenant
Quinan, OF. the Fourth United States
Artillery. The piece of ordnance used
was condemned three-inch rifed
wroaght-iron gun. Mr.. Quinan in per-
son loaded the shells, each shell-an
Elongated three-inch rife projectile-
being charged with seven ounces of
dynamite. The first projecting charge
was quarter-pound of ordinary powder
bs used in the United States artillery,
subsequently, increased to half a pound
and one pound. In the first and sec
bnd discharges. the shells did just what
was expected of them: they did not ex-
blode until they struck the target, a
lek one hundred yards from the gun.
When the third charge was fired, how
ever, the explosion of the charge, the
bursting of the shell and the shattering
bf the gun, appeared to be simultane-
ous, the piece of ordnance being torn
nto fragments. This may be said to
have been just what was expected and
Intended, the object being to demon
trate how far a shell loaded with a
high explosive may be fired from ordi-
barry guns If the propelling charge is
properly regulated.
Subsequently, trials were made on
he Potomac, near Washington, by the
United States Dynamite Projectile Com
pany with Snider dynamite projectiles.
Four six-inch shells, carrying eleven
bound bursting charges of nitro-gela-
line, were fired against ledge of rock
lie thousand yards distant. The ex-
periments were regarded as a. success
n every respect, and as conclusive
proof of the destructive power of six
nch shells. the latter exploding on
striking the. target, and doing good
Execution on the rock. But so far, all
attempts to throw larger charges OF
nigh explosives out of powder guns
have failed. Atleastfour guns have been
burst at Sandy Hook; one recently.
Having failed in the attempts to throw
uncamphorated explosive gelatine, the
7ery much less sensitive camphorated
Explosive gelatine was resorted to.
This is also less powerful than the un-
amphorated, and requires very strong
initial defamation by illuminate of mer-
ury and dynamite or gun-cotton to
tain its fullest development Of
sngth. In no case have the requisite
letonators of illuminate Of mercury
been thrown, IS these are very sensi-
i've to explosion, by the shock which
hey receive in the powder gun. All
he experiments made were instructive.
put they were also destructive of the
suns- aI-
The problem. of propelling shells
filed with high explosives, with safety
b the guns and to those discharging
hem, was not satisfactorily settled
Until Lieutenant Zalinski, of the Fifth
United States Artillery, brought for
Fsrd his pneumatic gun, on the inv en-
lon and improvement of which he had
Peen engaged for some time. This gun
in reality a tube sixty fee.
pg, made of half-inch iron lined with
e-sixteenth of an inch of brass, and
[aving a bore of eight inches. The
|arrel is supported and stifened by q
ght but strong iron frame, at the Gen.
er of which is a pivot, about which
he gun may be revolved, the breech
nd being provided with wheels, which
un upon circular track. The gun lis
levated and depressed by means of a
iston, the cylinder of which receives
ir from eight resGvoirs-each OF
which is twenty feet long. twelve
inches outside diameter, and made OF
ron half an inch thick-placed upon
he frame beneath the barrel, the air
eipg supplied by compressor. This
ton presses upon the gun just for
,-rd of the truNnions to elevate the
ariel. Upon the air being allowed tc
scape slowly, the barrel is lowered by
ravify. Tothe pistons of two cylin.
ers placed at the pivot are secured